Wellness

[Snowangel3]

I had a bad bout with shingles 3 years ago. I had been shoveling and initially thought I must have pulled a muscle in my left side. I didn't initially see any rash so I just took a Tylenol and decided to see if it would help. The next day I woke up with the red,blister-like rash under my left br**st going all the way around to my back. It was the week before Christmas and the pain was excruciating. I'm a nurse and knew when the rash appeared exactly what it was. I did go to the doctor just to confirm the diagnosis. It had been 4 days since the rash appeared so I was surprised that she prescribed the Valtrex and pain med anyway. The episode lasted a month for me and thank God I had no PHN or recurrence since. I'm in my 40's but as soon as I turn 60 I'll be getting that vaccine. I never want to experience that kind of pain again!! I know how you feel!! Feel better soon!

[The Cleanup Woman]

If you are reading this and have had chicken pox, consider getting the shingles vaccine. You can get the shot at a pharmacy or doctors office. Shingles is one disease you don't want to mess around with because it is very painful and can cause damage to nerves especially if it travels up your face.

[LilacTree]

As I indicated in my post yesterday, I went to my GP yesterday and asked her about getting the shingles vaccine. She said no, unequivocally, that she would not recommend that for me due to my compromised immune system. She is afraid (as I also wondered) that the vaccine would instead bring on a shingles attack. So that's a no. I will have to take my chances.

She did push heavily on the flu shot though, while admitting that some of them are loaded with preservatives and other chemicals and it depends on where the shot was manufactured. She said the shot she gives does not include those chemicals. I told her I would think about it.

She also gave me a scrip for Lipitor which I may or may not take. I have to do a little more research first. I always swore I would never taken statins. However, it's at the pharmacy waiting for me. I do not trust statins and with all the pain I already have in my joints and muscles, I would not welcome more.

To "offset" that, she wants me to undergo more bloodwork, and an MRI to get a "base" for her final recommendation that I undergo a series of epidurals and other cortisone shots in my back for the pain. Number one, I don't see how not having pain (if that even works since the surgery didn't) is going to prevent further spinal vertebral compressions. In fact, if I don't have pain, I'm not sure I wouldn't start doing physical things that would encourage more breakage. So I have to think on that also. I am not big on pain meds and think they often do more harm than good. I am not supposed to bend over, or twist, or reach, and with no pain I might do those things.

So, as usual, I leave the doctor's office with more questions than answers.

[Gooday]

On 11/6/2014 Ford1224 said:

As I indicated in my post yesterday, I went to my GP yesterday and asked her about getting the shingles vaccine. She said no, unequivocally, that she would not recommend that for me due to my compromised immune system. She is afraid (as I also wondered) that the vaccine would instead bring on a shingles attack. So that's a no. I will have to take my chances.

She did push heavily on the flu shot though, while admitting that some of them are loaded with preservatives and other chemicals and it depends on where the shot was manufactured. She said the shot she gives does not include those chemicals. I told her I would think about it.

She also gave me a scrip for Lipitor which I may or may not take. I have to do a little more research first. I always swore I would never taken statins. However, it's at the pharmacy waiting for me. I do not trust statins and with all the pain I already have in my joints and muscles, I would not welcome more.

To "offset" that, she wants me to undergo more bloodwork, and an MRI to get a "base" for her final recommendation that I undergo a series of epidurals and other cortisone shots in my back for the pain. Number one, I don't see how not having pain (if that even works since the surgery didn't) is going to prevent further spinal vertebral compressions. In fact, if I don't have pain, I'm not sure I wouldn't start doing physical things that would encourage more breakage. So I have to think on that also. I am not big on pain meds and think they often do more harm than good. I am not supposed to bend over, or twist, or reach, and with no pain I might do those things.

So, as usual, I leave the doctor's office with more questions than answers.

That's odd: my husband has a compromised immune system as he had a kidney transplant 8 years ago. He had shingles in 2010. He got the vaccine for his protection against further flare ups. Furthermore, Even though I was 57, my PCP gave me the injection for both our protection. Fortunately, my insurance paid for it. I would have gladly paid.

Oh well, different doctors, different opinions.

[littleblueparakeet2]

Hey everybody; yes I'm still alive.

Still hanging out at home recovering. Rash isn't totally gone, but it's improved greatly, vesicles are drying up; pain wise the burning sensation is pretty much gone. Once things clear up totally, I'm getting the vaccine. I don't want to go through this ever again, or if I do it will be less severe.

I noticed a few of you mentioned having a headache with the shingles; that's exactly what I had too, in addition to a sore throat. I didn't realize at the time that all my symptoms were connected.

~lbp2~

[champagnepoodle]

I have an employee age 57 who got shingles and was out of work for 5 months. She said its like being on fire!

[minkbunny]

Ford, my husband was in the hospital 129 days straight this past calendar year, critically ill.

He recently asked about the shingles shot and was told the same as you. They wouldn't risk giving it to him right now.

I am sorry you left your doctor's office even more confused. I will say that my husband (he had mild cholesterol issues) couldn't tolerate any statin until a surgeon friend of ours suggested my husband do the same as the doctor does - he takes Zocor, Monday, Wednesday and Friday only. It has worked for years, no pain issues and his cholesterol is even below the desired levels. Hope you can find something that works for you as well.

Glad you are feeling better, littleblue

[littleblueparakeet2]

Thanks minkbunny and to everyone here.

~lbp2~

[emmysmom]

On 11/6/2014 littleblueparakeet2 said:

Thanks minkbunny and to everyone here.

~lbp2~

This reminds me of my son's parakeet, Paco! He was so sweet! I'm sure he's flying free in heaven these days! Hope you're feeling better!

[momshan]

little blue, so glad to hear you may have had a lighter case. Shingles is something that can surprise us with it's acuteness. I have had the shot and wasn't told I needed a booster. This would be a question I will ask my Doc. Thanks everyone!